I’ve seen the question come up in my troop and on social media (like Facebook) about
what gear you should get for a newly crossed-over Boy Scout. To help, here’s a list of
basic Boy Scout camping gear I recommend. It’s easy to spend a lot of money quickly,
but you don’t have to. First, check with your troop to see if they have any hand-me-
down equipment available— that’s how I got my first backpack. Also, remember that the
region you live in plays a big role in gear selection. A Scout in Northern Maine will need
different gear than one in Texas, for example.
Beyond the weather, the type of program your troop offers also makes a difference. A
canoeing troop will require different gear than a backpacking troop, for instance. Be
sure to talk with your Scout leaders about your troop’s specific activities before making
any big purchases.
First off, remember that your 11-year-old still has a lot of growing to do over the next few
years. You’ll need to balance the fact that they’re going to be growing quickly with the
desire to keep them comfortable. In some cases, it makes sense to save money, while
in others, it’s worth investing a bit more for higher quality gear.
What I’ve done here is put together a list of Boy Scout camping gear that I would
choose for my son, living on the West Coast. I hope this helps point you in the right
direction and makes it easier for your Scout to enjoy the outdoors as much as I have
over the years. Be sure to read through reviews and shop around before making any
final purchases—you know your child and your budget best.
Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags are rated in terms of degrees. In theory, a zero-degree sleeping bag will
keep you warm at zero degrees Fahrenheit. A 32-degree bag should keep you warm at
32 degrees. You don’t want your new Scout to be cold on his earliest campouts. You’re
looking for a bag that is comfortable and warm.
This is one area where you can spend as much as $500 for a top of the road, high-
quality bag. I wouldn’t recommend that much for a new scout. On the other hand, you
can get a high-quality zero degree sleeping bag from Coleman (Coleman North Rim
Cold-Weather Mummy Sleeping Bag, 0°F) for much, much less than that.
Sleeping bags are one item that your scout shouldn’t outgrow and should last for a while
if properly cared for.
Ground Pad
There are a few ways to go here – cot, ground pad, hammock, or inflatable mattress.
Keep in mind that this is their bed in the woods.
All have pros and cons, and you’ll see huge debates over which is best. Cots are
great for camping, but not great for backpacking, as they’re heavier and tougher to fit in
a backpack.
I personally love my self-inflating air mattress. I’ve one Thermarests that have lasted
me about 5 years so far. But they’re generally on the more expensive side. There are
some relatively inexpensive ones on the market, like this sleeping pad.
But for 11-year-olds, who can be rough on equipment you may want to go with
something that can’t actually be punctured. Foam ground pads like this one tend to be
your safest bet. While self-inflating mattresses can be sealed, that’s not something that
an 11-year-old should be worrying about on a campout.
Tent
When choosing a tent for camping, here is what to consider:
1) Climate – What kind of weather will you be camping in? Four-season tents are
designed to withstand strong winds and loads of snow. If you’ll be in milder climates,
a three-season tent will do the job.
2) Space – How many people will share the tent? How much personal space do you all
want? Tents can accommodate one, two, three or four sleepers — keep in mind that
this label doesn’t consider backpacks or extra gear. It’s helpful to check out the tent
at the store before you buy. Ask a salesperson if you can set it up so you can crawl
inside and see how much room you’ll have.
Want some headroom? A dome tent might be best because of its design. Think
about the ease of moving around, entering and exiting, but also the need to balance
a tent’s living space against the following factors.
3) Weight – Look especially at a tent’s packed size, considering how much other gear
you have to pack. Need something lightweight? Seek out tents specifically
designed for backpacking.
4) Ease of setup – Larger tents usually require more time and effort to pitch and take
down, which can feel tedious in nice weather and miserable in rain. Think about your
tolerance for that versus your desire for more space.
5) Stability – Tall tents with vertical walls are much more vulnerable to damage from
strong winds. Those tents are best for calm weather and campgrounds protected
from the wind. Low-profile models with angled walls and guylines are best for all
weather.
6) Rain – Some tents have a rainfly that doesn’t extend to the ground, which is fine for
fair-weather camping. Get a full-coverage rainfly for camping in mixed weather;
those tents usually have better stability in wind.
Above are general guidelines but I live in California and the Coleman tents (link) work
perfectly fine in all weathers and they are not super expensive either. My family has 2-
person, 4-person and 6-person Coleman tents.
Hiking Boots
Again, you want quality at a good price here. Save the $100+ hiking boots for when
they’re old enough to be doing long-distance trail hiking in a few years.
You want something that’s comfortable, durable, and here’s the big one – waterproof.
Wet feet will ruin your scout’s campout. What I generally do with boots is try them on in
the store, and then check them online, and buy whichever one is cheaper. If you don’t
have a good store in your area, though, you can take advantage of free returns if the
sizing or feel isn’t quite right. Keep in mind that they’re going to spend a lot of time in
them, so you’ll want to get this right.
Here’s a good starter boot from Merril. I’ve owned a few pairs from Merril, and I’ve loved
everyone.
Backpack
The old debate is about internal vs. external framed backpacks. The first backpack I
ever used was an external frame.
The benefits of an external frame are that they generally have more pockets, more
places to store stuff. They also tend to be a little bit less comfortable than an internal
frame pack. They’re also a bit more expensive.
The capacity of a backpack is measured in liters. For an overnight campout, a backpack
should be between 30-50 liters. If you’re going multiple nights, you’d want larger – but
your new Boy Scout won’t be doing that for a few years anyway.
This backpack at Amazon should be large enough for your new scout.
Mess Kit
If you’re shopping for an 11-year-old, you really don’t want to spend too much money
here. You want something sturdy – so that it will be easier to handle in cold weather. But
you have to realize that 11-year-olds are going to wreck whatever it is you get them.
They’re going to get distracted and burn food. They’re going to leave messes in them.
There’s the all-time basic mess kit from Coleman would do the trick on the low-end for
your new Boy Scout, but this one from is only a tad bit more expensive, and would
seem to fit the bill in terms of sturdiness perfectly.
Long Underwear/ Toiletries
Please have extra pair of underwear, a light towel and toiletries. Whether you go for one
night or more than one night camping, you should have all these essentials with you.
Water Bottle
Hydration is key to staying healthy and happy on a campout. Every scout should have
at least two water bottles. The two big names here are Nalgene and Camelback.
They’re a bit more expensive, and I’d see this as more of a luxury item, as a handheld
bottle will do just fine.
Socks
Again, you wouldn’t think this would be a big deal – but cold, wet feet on a campout can
be a deal-breaker. The old phrase “cotton kills” is one to remember. On a campout
where you’re going to be doing a lot of vigorous activity, you want to have a sock that
wicks moisture away from your foot and keep the foot dry. This reduces blisters and will
keep your feet warmer.
Light Jacket for Day Time
I would recommend packing a fleece jacket designed to block the wind and keep you
warm on cool nights. Fleece is lightweight, and it can be bought at a reasonable price.
Well, the above list is not exhaustive but are most of the essential gear for camping. You should
consider the following gear as well while planning for camping:
Rain Gear
First Aid Kit
Bug spray
Flashlights
Camping Chairs
Scout Handbook
I hope this blog helps you plan for camping without any stress, and you can be
prepared for a great experience.
